Adjacent Words

meadow hen definitions

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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Stake-driver Stake"-driv`er, n. (Zo["o]l.) The common American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus); -- so called because one of its notes resembles the sound made in driving a stake into the mud. Called also meadow hen, and Indian hen.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Bittern Bit"tern, n. [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of unknown origin.] (Zo["o]l.) A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of various species. Note: The common European bittern is Botaurus stellaris. It makes, during the brooding season, a noise called by Dryden bumping, and by Goldsmith booming. The American bittern is B. lentiginosus, and is also called stake-driver and meadow hen. See Stake-driver. Note: The name is applied to other related birds, as the least bittern (Ardetta exilis), and the sun bittern.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Meadow Mead"ow, a. Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow; produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. ``Fat meadow ground.'' --Milton. Note: For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see the particular word in the Vocabulary. Meadow beauty. (Bot.) Same as Deergrass. Meadow foxtail (Bot.), a valuable pasture grass (Alopecurus pratensis) resembling timothy, but with softer spikes. Meadow grass (Bot.), a name given to several grasses of the genus Poa, common in meadows, and of great value for nay and for pasture. See Grass. Meadow hay, a coarse grass, or true sedge, growing in uncultivated swamp or river meadow; -- used as fodder or bedding for cattle, packing for ice, etc. [Local, U. S.] Meadow hen. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The American bittern. See Stake-driver. (b) The American coot (Fulica). (c) The clapper rail. Meadow lark (Zo["o]l.), any species of Sturnella, a genus of American birds allied to the starlings. The common species (S. magna) has a yellow breast with a black crescent. Meadow mouse (Zo["o]l.), any mouse of the genus Arvicola, as the common American species A. riparia; -- called also field mouse, and field vole. Meadow mussel (Zo["o]l.), an American ribbed mussel (Modiola plicatula), very abundant in salt marshes. Meadow ore (Min.), bog-iron ore, a kind of limonite. Meadow parsnip. (Bot.) See under Parsnip. Meadow pink. (Bot.) See under Pink. Meadow pipit (Zo["o]l.), a small singing bird of the genus Anthus, as A. pratensis, of Europe. Meadow rue (Bot.), a delicate early plant, of the genus Thalictrum, having compound leaves and numerous white flowers. There are many species. Meadow saffron. (Bot.) See under Saffron. Meadow sage. (Bot.) See under Sage. Meadow saxifrage (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant of Europe (Silaus pratensis), somewhat resembling fennel. Meadow snipe (Zo["o]l.), the common or jack snipe.